, 1887-09-23
supeRsrlrrons ABOUT BABIES
Events Which Bring Good Luck-The
First Tooth-An Incident.

eh DAAbb oOoN
First Tooth-An Incident.
Receiving the card Of a little stranger
who had arrived at the home of a friend
a few weeks before, we fastened at once
to bear u greeting gift and congratula-
tons, and were about entering baby's re-
ception room, when we were met by the
head nurse, a good, comfortable looking
Scotch woman, who would on no account
allow us to come in without first remov-
ing our gloves and wells.
'Surely the bonny bit laddie would-na
haze luck at a." she said, as she watched
us divest ourselves of the Objectionable
articles; "and now you maun a max a
guild wish for bath soul and body when
you tax him in u arms"
We willingly complied with this re-
quest, and delighted her beyond all
reason by accidentally giving the child his
full name as he opened his eyes and gazed
into vacancy, although apparently at us.
Indeed, mistress, he is sure to be a
credit to bis father n the kirk, forby
the guild luck that maun follow a child
hat nswer sac readily to his namel'
We laughed at the old woman's f~ancies,
but ever since have been tempted to do as
she babe us, when calling upon a new
baby. Surely it can do no harm to make
a good wish, and as for the gloves and
veil, the ceremony of removing is a al
tious as well as comfortable one.
1t is believed by many that if a child
cries at its birth and lifts up only one
hand, it is born to command.
1t is thought very unlucky not to weigh
the baby before it is dressed. When first
dressed the clothes should not be put on
over the head, but drawn on over the
feet, for luck.
When first taken from the room in
which it was born, it must be carried up
stairs before down, 80 that it will rise in
the world. In any case, it must be car
ried upstairs or up the street, not down
stairs or down the street, the first time it
is taken out.
1t is also considered in England and
Scotland unlucky to cut the baby's nails
or hair before it is 10 months old. The
sap from the ash tree is always given to
the newborn Highland baby; first, be-
cause it is a powerful a%stringent, and
second, because it is supposed to possess
the property of resisting the attacks of
witches, fairies and other imps of dark
ness that might change the child.
Another Scotch custom is to put a gold
coin in the fingers of a baby as soon as
dressed. If the child clasps it tightly,
then it is considered ''unco' canny," and
no fear is felt of its worldly estate. In
many parts of both England and Scot
land at the present time a new baby is
presented with an gg, which represents
both meat and drink, salt, which savors
everything, bread, the staff of life,
matches to light it through the world,
and a coin, that it may never want
money.
In Durham, England, a piece of chris
tening cake Is hidden under the child's
robe and given to the first person of the
opposite sex met on coming out of church
after baptism. If twins, or more than
one child are brought for baptism at the
same time, the boy must be first pre-
sented, or else it is-or was-believed
that he would ave no beard, and that
the girls would be beggars.
1t is thought to be very lucky for a
child to cry at baptism.
In Scotland bread and cheese were
used as an offering. And in the North
Riding a roll of new bread, a pint of salt,
and a new silver f~ourpenny piece were
offered to every baby, on its first visit to
a friend, by the friend.
A seventh daughter is said to possess
curing power, and always makes a good
nurse.
When the baby cuts his first tooth it
should be rubbed with gold, and the
nurse, as well as the person discovering
the tooth, must be presented with a gift,
no matter how small. Parted teeth are
a sign of good luck and riches t. come.
Be sure and let the baby nave or touch
the thing he starts after when he takes
his first step, even if it is the moon-he
must be let touch something high, on
which its light shines-and then he will
always get his wishes.
He should be taken into the sunlight
for the first time on a Sabbath day, put
into short clothes, and in fact all changes
made upon hat day.
A good example of how far the old be-
liefs or superstitions of our grandmothers
are regarded by the mothers of this gen.
GRAFTON is pleasantly illustrated in the fol-
p blowing conversation overheard at one of
the elevated stations in New York city:
A child, who was in charge of its grand
mother and mother, gave vent to a hearty
sneeze, and Immediately the grandmother
said, GOD bless the babyl'' whereupon
the mother, a stylish New York girl, an
swered, "Oh, you dear old fashioned
grandmamma, God bless the baby all the
timel''-Harper's Bazaar.
Fishing Out q Nickel.